MPs and trade union leaders addressed a press conference at parliament on Wednesday organised by the Shrewsbury 24 Campaign.
They demanded the release of documents that show the collusion of Tory cabinet ministers and the judiciary over the arrests and sentencing of leading strikers under conspiracy laws after the 1972 building workers strike.
The campaign states, of documents due for release under the 30-year rule: ‘The government have used section 23 of the Freedom of Information Act to claim these documents should not be seen on grounds of national security. We believe these papers show the extent of political interference in the case at the time.’
Justice Secretary Grayling said last week that campaigners would have to wait another ten years for the release of the documents.
Chairing the press conference, Labour MP John McDonnell said: ‘The government is retaining a whole section of the evidence we need.’
He said this was ‘a significant cover-up’.
At the first Shrewsbury trial in October 1973, Des Warren was jailed for three years on charges of unlawful assembly, intimidation and affray, and conspiracy to intimidate. Ricky Tomlinson got two years and John McKinsie nine months.
Warren subsequently died of Parkinson’s disease after being drugged in prison with largacktyl, known as the ‘liquid cosh’.
Tomlinson told the press conference: ‘What is so particularly nasty is the Shrewsbury papers should be available this year.
‘(Previous justice secretary) Ken Clarke reviewed the papers and put another ten years embargo on.
‘The oldest Shrewsbury survivor is 84, another is 74, they’ll be falling of their perch by the time this comes out in 2021.
‘What made me angry is these documents are stamped “top secret”, including letters from the prime minister.’
Campaign researcher Eileen Turnbull said: ‘The information the government has is immense. They must have reams of documents, so many are redacted.
‘I’d like to ask MPs and trade unionists to get everybody to sign our petition.
‘We need the documents released and a debate in parliament.’
She added: ‘I’ve obtained documents that show there was government intervention in relation to this dispute in 1972, and not only that, in relation to charges and sentencing.’
Labour MP Tom Watson told journalists: ‘These 24 men believe a grave miscarriage of justice was done to them.
‘I’m convinced of their argument.
‘To cite national security now is not right.
‘These documents will cast a light on a great injustice that was done.’
Liverpool Labour MP Steve Rotheram said: ‘Blacklisting went on – there are a parallels with a politicised police force not carrying out their neutral role; a corrupt force as shown by Hillsborough, Orgreave and the phone-hacking scandal.
‘With Hillsborough we got full disclosure, we need it here for Shrewsbury.’
TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: ‘The TUC supports this campaign to right this wrong, since GCHQ the biggest attack on the right of workers to organise.
‘The Shrewsbury pickets fought for fair pay and to stop casualisation.
‘They were standing up against a consortium of employers who had very close relations with members of the Tory party in power.
‘The conspiracy lies elsewhere.
‘The national security is on the government’s involvement. It’s time to shine a light on the truth.’
She concluded by calling for a parliamentary inquiry and the publication of all the documents.
John McDonnell reminded journalists: ‘One who is not here is Desi Warren who died.’
Unite general secretary Len McCluskey paid tribute to the Shrewsbury 24: ‘They keep on fighting, that’s the nature of the working class’.
He added: ‘The conspiracy at Shrewsbury goes beyond phone hacking.
‘Six months after the successful dispute, the knock on the door came and they were arrested for conspiracy.
‘We won a dispute against construction companies five months ago due to the rank and file. I wonder whether they will have a knock on the door.
‘The Labour government betrayed the Shrewsbury pickets.
‘(Then home secretary) Roy Jenkins would not let the pickets out of jail.
‘This is one of the greatest miscarriages of justice.
‘The message to our lords and masters is we are not going away.’
UCATT general secretary Steve Murphy told the press conference: ‘I’m a bricklayer. I’ve got to thank these guys for increasing my pay.
‘It’s a disgrace when they talk about not releasing these papers on grounds of national security.
‘McAlpines were blacklisting our members.
‘It’s wrong what the construction companies are doing.
‘Let’s get these papers released.’
Film maker Ken Loach told the assembled journalists: ‘This is one of the great causes of our time.
‘The truth is, if Ricky Tomlinson wasn’t so well-known as an actor this room wouldn’t be so packed.
‘Let’s remember him as a plasterer and all the other lads.
‘This is another chapter in the long history of workers struggle with the state, along with Peterloo and Orgeave.
‘Today they are discussing blacklisting.
‘Yesterday, when Cameron was lecturing on democracy he said the executive and the judiciary should be separate.
‘What are politicians doing when they are talking with the judiciary about arrests and sentencing?
‘What the national security aspect can be is the dirty tricks brigade at work.
‘The fact they don’t want to release these documents, the fact that they don’t want to release them shows their guilt.
‘It’s essential that trade unionists don’t trust parliament.
‘The Pentonville 5 were got out of jail by the action of your members.
‘I’d like to see workers out on strike, that’s your strength – let’s see the trade unions mobilised by walking off the job.
‘This can’t go on much longer, otherwise these men will be in their graves before the truth is out. We have to do it now.’
Campaigner Mike Abbott, who took part in marches all over the country led by Wigan building workers to free the ‘Shrewsbury Two’, said: ‘Des Warren knew there was a conspiracy.
‘These people conspired against Des.
‘Let’s get the truth out – put these people on trial for their conspiracy.’
Tomlinson said that while he was let out the front, Des Warren was taken out the back entrance when he was freed.
Tomlinson said prison officials told him of Des Warren ‘another year, he won’t make it’.
He added: ‘The knew what they were doing to him.
‘Des’s wife said he died of drug-induced Parkinson’s.’
